Swimming pool fire suppression means and delivery system therefor

Abstract

A fire suppression device has a pump and spray nozzle in hydraulic communication with the interior environment of a swimming pool. The pump and spray nozzle are capable of remote and automatic operation by wireless sensors configured to direct a stream of liquid upon an adjacent fire. The device may be powered via solar power.

Claims

1. A fire suppression device, consisting of: a pump enclosure; a suction line having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is disposed at the pump enclosure and is in fluid communication with an inlet of a pump, and wherein the second end is configured to be positioned at a bottom of a body of water; a weight bonded to the suction line at the second end, wherein the weight is configured to prevent the suction line from floating to a surface of the body of water; a filter disposed at the second end of the suction line and covering an entrance thereto, wherein the filter is configured to prevent ingress of foreign material into the suction line; a discharge line having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is in fluid communication with an outlet of the pump; a discharge nozzle disposed at the second end of the discharge line, wherein the discharge nozzle is configured to discharge a stream of pressurized water to an exterior environment; a support stand having a weighted base, wherein the weighted base is configured to support the discharge nozzle during operation and withstand thrust forces exerted by the discharge line and discharge nozzle; a motor disposed within the pump enclosure and mechanically connected to the pump by a drive shaft, wherein the motor is configured to generate rotary power to the pump to induce transfer of water from the body of water through the suction line and discharge line to the discharge nozzle; a photovoltaic cell disposed on the pump enclosure, wherein the photovoltaic cell is configured to generate electrical power during a power failure; a rechargeable battery electrically connected to the photovoltaic cell, wherein the rechargeable battery receives regulated input power from a charge controller; an AC inverter configured to receive power from the rechargeable battery and supply AC power to the motor; a transfer switch disposed on the pump enclosure and configured to select between power from an AC power cord and power from the AC inverter; and, a main power switch disposed on the pump enclosure and configured to activate the fire suppression device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the swimming pool fire suppression device, shown in an installed state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a pictorial sectional view of the swimming pool fire suppression device, as seen along a Line I-I, as shown in FIG. 1, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the swimming pool fire suppression device, as seen along a Line II-II, as shown in FIG. 2, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the swimming pool fire suppression device, shown in an installed and utilized state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

(6) FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram of the swimming pool fire suppression device, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

(7) 10 swimming pool fire suppression device 11 water 15 swimming pool 20 yard 25 residence 30 pump enclosure 35 suction line 40 discharge line 45 discharge nozzle 50 support stand 55 reciprocating mechanism 60 directional handle 61 cradle 65 AC power cord 70 photovoltaic cell 75 pool bottom 80 weight 85 filter 90 depth adjustment system 95 weighted base 99 cabling 100 disconnect switch 101 low-level water sensor 104 drive shaft 105 pump 110 motor 115 pump base 120 transfer switch 125 AC inverter 130 rechargeable battery 135 charge controller 140 main power switch 145 residential fire 150 wildfire 155 pressurized water 160 radial travel path r 165 elevational travel path e

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through 5. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims.

(9) The terms a and an herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items.

1. Detailed Description of the Figures

(10) Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the swimming pool fire suppression device 10, shown in an installed state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The swimming pool fire suppression device 10 (herein also described as the device) 10, provides for a fire extinguishing and active fire prevention system that utilizes water 11 from a body of water 15, such as a swimming pool 15 and creates a stream of pressurized water 155 in order to be directed to extinguish a residential fire or a wildfire 150. The device 10 is shown utilized adjacent to and with a swimming pool 15 in the yard 20 of a residence 25. However, the device 10 will operate with any substantial body of water 15 including, but not limited to: a pond, a lake, a stream, one or more stormwater retention ponds, a river, or the like. As such, the use of the device 10 in a swimming pool 15 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention.

(11) The device 10 provides for a pump enclosure 30 with a suction line 35 (not visible in this view due to illustrative limitations) and a discharge line 40. A discharge nozzle 45, similar in size and construction to a fire hose nozzle is provided on a first end of the discharge line 40 and is supported by a support stand 50 equipped with a reciprocating mechanism 55. The reciprocating mechanism 55 can selectively be operated in either a manual mode by manipulation of a directional handle 60 or in an automatic mode. The automatic mode of the reciprocating mechanism 55 will be described in greater detail herein below. The device 10 is powered by an AC power cord 65. In the event of a power failure, a photovoltaic cell 70 integrated with the device 10 is capable of providing power to a backup power system which will be described in greater detail herein below.

(12) Referring next to FIG. 2, a sectional view of the device 10, as seen along a Line I-I, as shown in FIG. 1, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. This view fully illustrates the suction line 35 originating at the pump enclosure 30 at a first end and terminating at the pool bottom 75 at a second end. A weight 80 keeps the suction line 35 properly positioned and prevents the suction line 35 from floating to the surface. The weight 80 can be removably attached to or bonded to the suction line 35 either at or adjacent to the second end. A filter 85, also preferably located at the second end of the suction line 35 and covering an entrance thereto, prevents the entrance of foreign material therein. Additionally, the suction line 35 is provided with a depth adjustment system 90 to accommodate swimming pools 15 of varying depths. Such a depth adjustment system 90 can be removably attached to the exterior of the suction line 35.

(13) The support stand 50 is provided with a weighted base 95 to withstand any high thrust forces thereupon from the discharge line 40 and discharge nozzle 45 when the device 10 is operating. The reciprocating mechanism 55 is envisioned to be capable of three-hundred-sixty-degree (360) operation. A disconnect switch 100 allows for removal of power to the reciprocating mechanism 55 to enable for operation in the manual mode of the discharge line 40 to manually direct the exit of the discharge nozzle 45 via the directional handle 60. A low-level water sensor 101, such as a float switch, is capable of sensing a low level of water 11 in the swimming pool 15 and can deactivate features of the device 10.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 3, a pictorial sectional view of the device 10, as seen along a line II-II, as shown in FIG. 2, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. This view discloses the interior of the pump enclosure 30. The suction line 35 and the discharge line 40 are in mechanical and fluid connection with a pump 105. The first end of the suction line 35 is in fluid communication with the inlet of the pump 105 and the second end of the discharge line 40 is in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump 105. A motor 110, sitting on a pump base 115, provides rotary power to the pump 105 via a drive shaft 104. The motor 110 activates the pump 105 to induce a transfer of water 11 from the body of water 15 into pressurized water 155 for release to the environment. A transfer switch 120 selects between the AC power cord 65 (as shown in FIG. 1) or an AC inverter 125 to provide power to the motor 110. The AC inverter 125 receives input power from multiple rechargeable batteries 130. A charge controller 135 in turn provides power to the rechargeable batteries 130 in a regulated form as received from the photovoltaic cell 70 (as shown in FIG. 1). A main power switch 140 allows for activation of the device 10. Further details on the electrical interconnection of the above-mentioned components will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

(15) Referring next to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the device 10, shown in an installed and utilized state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. In the event of a residential fire 145 or a wildfire 150, the device 10 could be activated, and operated by a previously trained individual. The individual would utilize the directional handle 60 to direct a high-powered stream of pressurized water 155 along a radial travel path r 160 and a simultaneous elevational travel path e 165. Should an evacuation be required, the user would activate the reciprocating mechanism 55 via the disconnect switch 100 (as shown in FIG. 2), to enable operation of the automatic mode of the discharge nozzle 45 along the radial travel path r 160. The discharge nozzle 45 would then spray a stream of pressurized water 155 until stopped or the supply of water 11 is depleted.

(16) Referring to FIG. 5, an electrical block diagram of the device 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The AC power cord 65 provides electrical power to one (1) input of the transfer switch 120. The other input is provided power from the AC inverter 125. The AC inverter 125 receives DC power from the rechargeable batteries 130 and converts it into AC power. The rechargeable batteries 130 are charged from the charge controller 135 which receives input power from the photovoltaic cell 70. The output of the transfer switch 120 is then routed to the main power switch 140 which controls all power to the reciprocating mechanism 55 and the motor 110. The reciprocating mechanism 55 also receives power from the main power switch 140 through the disconnect switch 100. If closed, the reciprocating mechanism 55 operates in automatic mode to produce a stream of pressurized water 155 along the radial travel path r 160 (as shown in FIG. 4). If open, the reciprocating mechanism 55 is de-energized, allowing for enablement of the manual mode via manipulation of the directional handle 60. The low-level water sensor 101 is in electrical communication via cabling 99 with the disconnect switch 100 and the main power switch 140. Upon sensing a pre-determined low water 11 level, the low-level water sensor 101 controls the disconnect switch 100 to deactivate the reciprocating mechanism 55 and the motor 110 to the pump 105.

2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

(17) The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the device 10 would be constructed in general accordance with FIG. 1 through FIG. 5. The user would procure the device 10 from conventional procurement channels such as hardware stores, home improvement stores, mechanical supply houses, mail order and internet supply houses and the like.

(18) After procurement and prior to utilization, the device 10 would be prepared in the following manner: the pump enclosure 30 would be installed alongside the swimming pool 15 or other suitable body of water 15; the support stand 50 and weighted base 95 would be located where the necessary stream of pressurized water 155 to combat both a residential fire 145 and wildfire 150 could be produced; the suction line 35 is placed in fluid communication with the inlet of the pump 105 and the discharge line 40 is placed in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump 105; and electrical connections for the AC power cord 65 and the photovoltaic cell 70 would be installed. At this point in time, the device 10 is ready for operation.

(19) During utilization of the device 10, the following procedure would be initiated: in the event of a residential fire 145 or wildfire 150 where evacuations are not called for, the user would activate the main power switch 140 and ensure that the disconnect switch 100 is in the OFF position and thus placing the device 10 in a manual mode; the user would then direct the resultant stream of pressurized water 155 via the directional handle 60 to extinguish the residential fire 145 or wildfire 150. In the event an evacuation is necessary, the user would activate both the main power switch 140 and the disconnect switch 100 thus placing the device 10 in automatic mode to allow for automatic spraying of a stream of pressurized water 155 to extinguish or prevent any residential fire 145 or wildfire 150.

(20) After use of the device 10, it is deactivated by the main power switch 140 until needed again. It should be ensured that any utilized water 11 from the swimming pool 15 is replenished to prepare for subsequent use thereof.

(21) It is noted that the device 10 provides the following benefits over conventional firefighting methods: the device 10 generates and sprays pressurized water 155 on residences 25, structures, yards 20, and vegetation to prevent them from catching fire in high-danger fire situations; the device 10 prevents glowing ashes and embers from adjacent wildfires 150 from igniting other residences 25, structures, yards 20, or vegetation; and the device 10 prevents the necessity of having someone stand outside to spray down a roof of a residence 25 with a garden hose. The device 10 is perfect for residences 25 in wildfire 150 prone areas and is ideal for residences 25 along brush lines.

(22) The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.